Gliederung

Objective

Assessment of clinical condition and confocal microscopy of the corneal grafts of patients who undergone penetrating keratoplasty, 30 and more years after the surgery.

Methods

8 patients (9 eyes) who undergone penetrating keratoplasty in our Ophthalmology Department from 30 to 42 years ago were enrolled into the study. Visual acuity, slit lamp evaluation, pachymetry, esthesiometry and confocal microscopy of the corneal layers with the special emphasis to endothelium evaluation were performed.

Results

In 6 studied cases the transparency of the corneal grafts enables patients to obtain useful visual acuity. 2 eyes undergone retransplantation in over 20 years after the initial surgery. One patient is now qualified for the retransplantation because of the decompensation of the corneal graft. The morphological changes in the grafts' structure are being described.

Conclusions

Corneal grafts after penetrating keratoplasty may remain transparency and their function for 30 and more years after the surgery.